Direction signal



Feb. `l0, 1931. F. R. EMERY ETAL 1,791,864

DIRECTION' SIGNAL Filed July 2&1930

INVENTORS E R.Emerg and T'. I/i/Ha'znmen .sr ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, -1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE anni) n. EMERY ANDl THOMAS w. HAMMEN, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA DIRECTION SIGNAL Application filed July 2s,

This invention relates to direction signals for motor vehicles, and particularly to signals of that general character in which a vertically movable signal arm is employed e instead of the human arm and hand, and is moved mechanically or otherwise under the control of the driver, to the different prescribed signaling positions.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a. signal of the above general character in which the signal arm is so constructed and mounted that in addition to its being raised to different positions, and thus indicating a direction giving'signal by its l5 position, visual words or symbols also appear on the signal arm, corresponding in their meaning to the signal positions of said arm when the latter assumes such positions.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet .one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

lThese objects we accomplish by means of such structure andl relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the-following specification and claims,

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the Several views:

Figs. l, 2, and 3 are fragmentary front elevations of our improved signal showing the same in a plurality of different signalinO' positions.

ig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section of the device, showing particularly the mechanism for operating the signal arm according to our invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the Signal arm taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the

numeral l denotes the casing of the signal,

substantially U-shapedl in cross section and open to the bottom and one end. Y This casing is adapted to be secured to the vehicle in any suitable location, such as in the front of the body, over the rear fender, or the like, so that the open end of the casing 1930. Serial No. 471,367.

faces outwardly of the car. Disposed between the cars of the casing is a block 2 turnably supported from the casing by horizontal trunnions 3 which extend parallel to the open end of the casing or lengthwise of the vehicle. Projecting radially from this block is a signal arm 4 which is of a special form as hereinafter described. rlhis arm is mounted on one endV of a tubular shank or stem 5 which turnably projects through and is supported by the block vbetween the trunnions, in Such a manner that its axis intersects and is at right angles to the axial line of the trunnions. The signal arm is polygonal sided, the sides being formed of glass panes 6 or other suitable translucent material, which are held in place by a metal sheath or casing 7 cut away to expose the major area of the panes. This arm has an 'electric light bulb 8 therein adjacent its inner end and which is illuminated only when the signal assumes different signaling positions in the manner which will be seen later.

Secured on the end of the stem opposite the arm is a beveled pinion 9 which engages a segmental gear l0 fixed on one wall of the casing and vof course concentric with the trunnions 3.V By means of this construction lit will be seen that if Vthe block 2 is turned so as to swing the arm vertically the latter will also rotate about the stem 5 as an axis. The arcuate extent of this rotation depends on the relative proportions of the gear 10 andthe pinion 9; and this proportion is such that between successive signaling positions of the arm' (which are 45 degrees apart) said arm will turn sufficiently to present successive ones ofjits faces or Sides to the rear of the vehicle, or so that such faces will be disposed in a vertical'plane. f

In the present instance we have shown the arm as being of triangular cross section or as havingthree sides, corresponding to the three common signal positions-stop, left-turn and right-turn. Between the vertical swinging movement ofthe arm from one suchV position to another therefore said arm turns through one-third of a revolution. Eachv pane may have a different color from its companions and is letteredor otherwise carries symbols corresponding to or denoting the different signaling positions of the arms, as indicated in Figs. 1 to 3.

To cause the lamp to be illuminated only when the arm arrives at its different signaling positions, I provide a segmental installation strip 11, disposed concentric with the trunnions and secured against the back of the casing. The exposed face of this strip carries circumferentially spaced contacts 12 connected in common to a binding post 13`mounted in connection with said strip at one end of the same and to which a Wire from a source of current may be connected. These contacts are adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed contact spring 14 mounted centrally in the stem and projecting from the inner end of the same. This pin is mounted in electrically conducting relation with another-similar pin 15 disposed at the opposite end of the stem and adapted to engage the base of the bulb as usual. These pins are insulated from the stem by a continuous insult ting sleeve or bushing 16 in which they aremounted and which extends through the stem from end to end; the socket 17 which supports the bulb being grounded to the metal parts of the device so that a one Wire circuit is formed, as is customary in automotive practice. By reason of the contact arrangement shown the proper circuit closing contact is made irrespective of the vertical swinging of the arm aboutl the trunnions or the rotation of the arm about the stem. The contacts 12 are of course so positioned as to be engaged by the pin 14 only When the arm reaches its various signaling positions.

Numerous means, electrical, mechanical, or pneumatic, may be employed for rotating the block, and since various mechanisms of this character are already on the market,'and can be applied to operate our signal We have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same herein and such form no ypart of our invention.

In the present instance We have shown a radial arm 18 attached to one of the trunnions 3, as the means to which any such operating mechanism may be readily applied, as Will be evident. When the signal is not in use or is in its neutral position it hangs straight down and We therefore preferably provide a housing 19 which depends from and i-s secured to the casing 1, to conceal and protect the arm When in such position. Y

By reason of the particular forni of the signal arm and its peculiar double movement as above described, it will be seen that the driver of a following vehicle cannot possibly be confused by a signal given by the car on which our device is mounted. This is for the reason that in addition to the angular position of the arm, the exact definition of the intended signal is displayed by the arm as Well. This arrangement should therefore lead to a lessening of accidents in that signals are more likely to be better understood and interpreted by those for Whose benefit they are being given.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that We have produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

l/Vhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention,

as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, What We claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A. direction signal compri-sing a signal arm having a plurality of longitudinally extending faces, a fixed casing, a block turnably mounted in the casing for movement about a horizontal axis, a stem fixed With the arm and turnably mounted in the block, the axis of the stem lying in a plane at right angles to the block axis, a bevel pinion fixed on the stem,` and a bevel gear fixed on the casing concentric with the block axis and engaged by the pinion.

2. A structure as in claim 1, in which the pinion and gear are so proportioned that with the rotation of the block and the movement of the arm to different signaling positions, the arm will be turned to move a different face of the same into a vertical plane upon the arrival of the arm at each different signaling position.

In testimony whereof We afx our signatures.

FRED R. EMERY. THOMAS W. HAMMEN. 

